But the London Evening Standard says Podolski was at the Gunners’ London Colney base earlier this week as the finishing touches are put to a four-year contract worth in the region of £100,000 a week.

There are still one or two small details to be finalised but Cologne are believed to be planning a departure press conference for the 26-year-old early next week to confirm that he will be moving to Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.